N01911:99
Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…
Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D. teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England ; With a preface by Dr. Owen.Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D. teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England ; With a praeface by Dr. Owen.
Boston: printed by John Allen for John Edwards, 1721
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 1. There is an inward fruitfulness, which is inward qualities and dispositions of Soul. In inward, gracious frames of heart, true saving, sanctifying Grace is spiritual, fruit, Gal. 5.22, 23. The fru•• of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance. Good fruit is pleasing to the taste; these precious Graces are the fruits which are pleasing to the Holy Ghost. Where there is a sound Conversion unto God in Christ; I say, •here there is sincerity, there is this inward fruitfulness. It is said of the godly man, that […] shall bring forth fruit in season, and his leaf shall not wither, Psal. 1.3. Bearing fruit, is opposed to bearing leaves only: Leaves note outward Profession; Fruit inward Sincerity: This then is that which the Gospel requireth, and the fruit which it brings when it cometh in power, Col. 1.6. The Gospel brings forth fruit in you; this fruit was ••eir faith in Christ, and true Conversion […] God by him: They are changed from Sinners, into Saints; they were brought out of a state of Nature, into a state of Grace, by the power of the Gospel; therefore it is said that the Gospel brought forth fruit amongst them.
Answ. 1. There is an inward fruitfulness, which is inward qualities and dispositions of Soul. In inward, gracious frames of heart, true saving, sanctifying Grace is spiritual, fruit, Gal. 5.22, 23. The fru•• of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance. Good fruit is pleasing to the tast; these precious Graces are the furits which are pleasing to the Holy Ghost. Where there is a sound Conversion unto God in Christ; I say, •here there is sincerity, there is this inward ••uitfulness. It is said of the godly man, that 〈…〉 shall bring forth fruit in season, and his leaf shall not wither,